WILDOMAR: Council to tackle contested apartment project

IF YOU GO

What: Wildomar City Council to discuss Villa Siena, a proposed 170-unit apartment project, among other issues

When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12

Where: Wildomar City Hall, 23873 Clinton Keith Road

Info: 951-677-7751 or cityofwildomar.org

In a rare occurrence for Wildomar decision-makers, the City Council on Thursday, Nov. 12, will tackle a proposal for 170 apartments without a consensus from the Planning Commission.

In considering the project dubbed Villa Siena on Oct. 21, the commission failed to reach agreement, with two members favoring the project, two against it and one absent. As a result, the panel forwarded the issue to the council without a recommendation.

“We usually have a majority, one way or the other,” Planning Director Matthew Bassi said. “It was just a unique situation where we had one member absent and it ended up in a 2-2 tie. That’s the very reason most boards will have an odd number on them.”

While the council usually meets Wednesdays, this week’s meeting is being held Thursday because Wednesday is Veterans Day. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in City Hall, 23873 Clinton Keith Road.

The Villa Siena proposal calls for the construction of nine three-story apartment buildings on 10 vacant acres at the northeast corner of Elizabeth Lane and Prielipp Road in southern Wildomar. The site is bordered on three sides by homes and apartments.

Villa Siena would offer one-, two- and three-bedroom homes accompanied by 368 parking spaces, including 173 enclosed garage spaces. Features include a 1,900-square-foot clubhouse with a swimming pool.

Approval requires an amendment to the city’s general plan -- its master land-use guide -- as well as a zone change. The general plan allows multifamily housing on the property, but a smaller number of units than proposed, while the zoning dictates industrial development.

Zones in cities are supposed to reflect what’s outlined in the general plan. Yet, Wildomar, which incorporated in 2008, still has some conflicts yet to be ironed out.

In the commission’s review of the project, two primary concerns surfaced -- the loss of land for much needed industrial business and the density of housing at 17 units per acre.

“I think Commissioners Smith and Bidwell felt that it was a quality designed project and they understood that there is a need for rentals in the community, Bassi said. “The housing element (of the general plan) calls for housing to be available for all segments of the community.”

Join the conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful
conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments,
we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful,
threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent
or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law,
regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.